Spring Break 2025: Ag And Community in Brazil
Several students from the department of agricultural economics spent Spring Break 2025 in Brazil with the College of Agriculture’s study abroad program, “Ag & Community in Brazil.” The 15 Boilermakers were led by the Office of Academic Programs’ Dr. Alyssa Powers and Liz Byers. Highlights of the trip included a visit with coffee farmers in Arapanga, a mozzarella and brie cheese production class at a dairy processing plant in Viscoa, a walking tour of Ouro Preto, and a night in Rio de Janeiro.
Junior Alaina Weaver (Agribusiness; Roann, IN) chose this particular program because she wanted to visit a global leader in production agriculture. Alaina described one of her favorite memories, “At the coffee farm, we rode in a wagon pulled by a John Deere tractor up a mountain on a dirt trail. The views were amazing, and we were able to see naturally growing avocados, bananas, mangos and more during our drive to the field. I loved how welcoming and excited the farmers were to host us, and they really gave us quite the adventurous experience while also providing insightful education and perspective.”
Sophomore Berenize Perez’s (Agribusiness; Goodland, IN) favorite memory was the dinner at the Rio Brasa Steakhouse with Purdue Alumni. “It was a brand-new experience that was super awesome. I also got to try so many new fruits and side dishes here.” She added, “This trip was impactful to my overall Purdue experience because I had a lot of personal growth from this trip. I learned to let go and just go with the flow more. I am also learning how to be more open to interacting with people I normally don’t.”
This was senior Arrington Krull’s (Farm Management; Milford, IN) third study abroad experience as a Boilermaker! Her favorite memory was the final night and morning in Rio, where the students were able to swim in the ocean at night and watch the sunrise in the morning. Arrington also enjoyed the two tasting events; the coffee where they grow it for taste instead of caffeine, and the world-winning cheese where she found her favorite – “the leopard.” She also had a great deal of fun learning the Brazilian martial art, Capoeira and the Forro dance!
Senior Kylie Bedel (Agribusiness; Evansville, IN) has also had the opportunity to study abroad three times as a Boilermaker! She described the tour of Ouro Preto: “walking through the local park, seeing a waterfall inside a cave, the lookout above the forest was stunning and seeing the city at night all lit up was beautiful.” Kylie summarized, “The trip really helped wrap up my senior year with one last fun event and trip. I got to spend this trip getting to know some amazing people and have fun running through Brazil; I honestly don’t think I could have planned anything better myself.”
